Sliding device for snow sports

ABSTRACT

The sliding device for snow in accordance with the present invention is provided with a supporting slide ( 1 ) and a turning slide ( 2 ) arranged in front of the supporting slide. The smallest portion of said turning slide ( 2 ) is wider than the widest portion of the supporting slide ( 1 ). The ground contact portion ( 2   a ) of said turning slide spreads out forward and is essentially a trapezoid-like plate. The largest width of this ground contact portion is about 1.01-1.1 times the smallest width of the ground contact portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding device for snow sportsaccording to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Such a sliding device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,975,wherein the turning slide is round-shaped and the supporting slide isessentially a rectangular plate having a rounded front end. Astabilizing bar is provided between a sleeve in which the fork isrotatable and the front end of the supporting slide, so that thisstabilizing bar is positioned before the rider's feet, which are to bepositioned on a supporting plate provided on the supporting slide.

[0003] Such a sliding device presents some problems. Since the frontportion of the turning slide is round-shaped, the sliding device cannotmove in a straight line properly. While the sliding device moves forwardin curves, the length of the edge of the turning slide in contact withthe snow is relatively short; therefore, the edge effect does notfunction well and changing direction is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a slidingdevice in such a way that the device is capable of moving in a straightline properly, whereas it is easy to perform curves when riding on thesliding device.

[0005] It is a further object to improve the stability of the S device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The objects, details, advantages and the further features of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following descriptionand claims in conjunction with the drawings, which show an example of asliding device according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sliding device according tothe invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the sliding device in FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector for the foot strapon the sliding device in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side plan view in partial section of a quick releasesystem;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a top view of the supporting plate of the quick releasesystem; and

[0012]FIG. 6 shows schematically a side view of a hinge on thesupporting plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The total length of the sliding device for an adult rider inaccordance with the present invention is about 1.5 m. The sliding devicecomprises a supporting slide 1 and a turning slide 2, wherein theturning slide 2 is arranged in front of the supporting slide 1. Theturning slide 2 is connected with the supporting slide 1 by means of afront fork 3 extending from the lower portion of a rotating arm 4. Therotating arm 4 can freely rotate in a sleeve 5 of a frame comprising tworigid struts 6 and a stabilizing bar 10. The sleeve 5 is inclined inrelation to the ground and the angle of the inclination can be, forexample, 65°. The two rigid struts 6 are welded to the lower portion ofsaid sleeve 5 and can be made of metal tubes. The tubular struts 6extend downwardly from the front ends and continuously spread outward,until they reach the supporting slide 1. The struts 6 then continue asframe extensions 6 a arranged longitudinally on the supporting slide 1.In the middle part of the supporting slide 1 the frame extensions areinterrupted in such a way that a rear portion of the frame extensions 6a′ can pivot around a hinge 9 a or a flexible connection in relation tothe front frame extensions 6 a as shown by arrow X in FIG. 6.

[0014] Both frame extensions 6 a and 6 a′ extend along the side edges ofthe upper surface of the supporting slide 1. The rear ends of the rearframe extensions 6 a′ are inclined upward after they diverge from thesupporting slide 1. The rear frame extensions 6 a′ are connected to eachother via a rounded rear portion 6 a″.

[0015] Between the tubular struts 6 of metal and the frame extensions 6a and 6 a′ on said supporting slide 1, a supporting plate 11 for placingthe rider's feet is disposed. A rectangular rigid plate made of metalpreferable forms the main body of the supporting plate 11.

[0016] The two lateral edges of the supporting plate 11 are preferablywelded along their entire length to the inner sides of the frameextensions 6 a and 6 a′. Moreover, the supporting plate 11 for placingthe rider's feet can be attached to the supporting slide 1 by screws inat least four locations, the two lateral sides, the rear side and thefront side, such that the supporting plate 11 and the supporting slide 1are firmly connected to each other.

[0017] This supporting plate 11 is divided by the hinge 9 a or aflexible connection into a front plate 11′ and a rear plate 11″, whereinthe front plate 11′ is firmly connected with the frame extensions 6 aand the rear plate 11″ is firmly connected with the rear frameextensions 6 a′.

[0018] The tubular struts 6 and the supporting plate 11 are preferablewelded together in advance, and the combination is then attached to thesupporting slide 1 by screws. The supporting plate 11 is preferablycovered with non-skid material, such as rubber, on the surface which isin contact with the rider's feet.

[0019] On the front supporting plate 11′, a slipper-like foot strap 12is attached to the frame extensions 6 a. The foot strap 12 can looselykeep rider's two feet side by side, in the longitudinal or lateraldirection on the supporting plate 11. The foot strap 12, as shown inFIG. 3, can be adjusted back and forth on the frame extensions 6 a byfasteners 122 previously mounted at the two sides of the frameextensions 6 a. In addition, the foot strap 12 can be formed from ashape memory alloy and is provided with an adjustment means 121 tochange the size of the foot strap 12 to accommodate the size of aspecific rider's feet. Thus, the position of the rider on the slidingdevice is capable of being properly adjusted to depend on the desire orbody build of the rider by adjusting the length of the foot strap 12.

[0020] The upper portion of the sleeve 5 is attached to the stabilizingbar 10 formed from a metal tube. The front end of the bar 10 isconnected to the sleeve 5, and the bar 10 then extends downwardly andrearwardly to the rear supporting plate 11″. A shock absorber 101 ismounted near the central portion of the bar 10, so that the bar 10 isdivided by the shock absorber into a front portion 10 and a rear portion10′. The rear end of the rear portion 10′ is attached to the rearsupporting plate 11″, or at the supporting slide 1 by means of a pivotin the form of a bracket 9 or the like. Said shock absorber 101 can bemade of rubber, be hydraulic or be an MCU type. In addition, to preventthe shock absorber 101 from moving up and down or back and forth, a tubecovers the entire shock absorber 101. The tube is used to guide theshock absorber 101 and connect the shock absorber 101 to the rearportion 101 of the bar and to the rear supporting plate 11″, where thebracket 9 or the like is mounted.

[0021] Further, a spring can be provided for the shock absorber, whichspring is positioned between the front portion 10 of the bar and therear portion 10, wherein both portions 10 and 10′ are guided in the formof a spring biased telescope.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows schematically the hinge 9 a between front and rearportions 11′ and 11″ of the supporting plate 11. These front and rearportions 11′ and 11″ are firmly connected with the frame extensions 6 aand 6 a′ respectively, which are separated from each other so that thesupporting slide 1 can be bent around the axis of the hinge 9 a orflexible connection when riding on the sliding device as shown by arrowX.

[0023] Instead of a hinge 9 a between front and rear portion 11′ and 11″of the supporting plate 11, a flexible connection can also be providedbetween these two portions such a flexible connection can also beprovided between the frame extensions 6 a and 6 a′.

[0024] As described previously, the entire length of the sliding deviceis 150 cm, and the length of the supporting slide 1 is about 95 cm. Thefront fifth of the supporting slide 1 is curved up until the height ofthe front end is about 10 cm. Moreover, the rear end of the supportingslide 1 is likewise curved up until its height is about 1 cm. With theconfiguration described above, the main portion of the supporting slide1 is a substantially rectangular ground contact portion 1 a and thewidth of the curved front portion of the supporting slide 1 is graduallynarrowed toward the front end.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 2, said ground contact portion 1 a of thesupporting slide 1 is widest at c near the front end. For example, whenthe total length of the supporting slide 1 is about 95 cm, the width atc is preferred to be 22 cm. The width of the ground contact portion 1 abecomes smaller from c to the smallest width at e, where the width isapproximately 20 cm. The width again becomes larger after e until therear portion d, and the width after d is constant at approximately 21.5cm. That is, the supporting slide 1 is not a parallelogram, and itswidth is smallest at the rear portion at e in the area of the rearsupporting plate 11″ or behind the hinge 9 a.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front portion and the rearportion of said turning slide 2 are preferred to be curved up, like thesupporting slide 1, and the main portion at the center of

[0027] the turning slide 2 is the ground contact portion 2 a. The totallength of the turning slide 2 is preferred to be approximately 53 cmwhen the total length of the supporting slide 1 is 95 cm. Preferably,the height of the front end of the turning slide 2 is approximately 5cm, and the height of the rear end is approximately 1 cm. The groundcontact portion 2 a of the turning slide 2 is not a parallelogram with asmallest width of approximately 26 cm at a on the rear end. The width ofthe turning slide 2 becomes larger toward the front, until the largestwidth of about 27 cm, at b on the front end of the ground contactportion 2 a. Namely, the ground contact portion 2 a of the turning slide2 is a trapezoid-like plate, which is gradually wider toward the front.As described above, the smallest portion of the turning slide 2 is widerthan the widest portion c of the supporting slide 1.

[0028] Specifically because of the shape of the ground contact portion 2a of the turning slide 2, curves are made more efficiently with thesliding device. When making a curve, the handlebar is turned left orright and the respective left edge or the right edge of the turningslide 2 can instantly act on the ground. The sliding device can thusimmediately and efficiently perform the desired curve. From variouskinds of testing, good results can be achieved by setting the largestwidth (the width of the front end at b) of the ground contact portion 2a to be approximately 1.01-1.1 times the smallest width (the width ofthe rear end at a) of the ground contact portion 2 a.

[0029] The maintenance, movement and storage of the sliding device areachieved by means of a quick release system 14. The convenientlyassembled or disassembled quick release system 14 is fastened at thelower end of the front fork 3. With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, thequick-release system 14 comprises a supporting plate 141 firmlyconnected with the fork and fastening elements 143, 144 provided on theturning slide 2. Position guide posts 142 for positioning the fork 3 areprovided on the turning slide 2 and are inserted in therounded-contoured supporting plate 141 through positioning holes 145(FIG. 5). The position guide posts 142 can be embodied as screwsinserted into the upper surface of the turning slide 2. Additionallyscrews can be used for fastening the guide posts on the supporting plate141. The quick release system comprises an L-shaped lip 143 and alocking clamp 144, which are fastened on the turning slide 2 by means ofscrews. When connecting the quick release system 14 to the turning slide2, first insert the front edge of the supporting plate 141 under the lip143, then insert the position guide posts 142 into the positioning holes154 and clamp the rear edge of the supporting plate 141 with the lockingclamp 144. Said supporting plate 141 has rounded contours, such that thestresses on the supporting slide 2 generated from jumps or specialsliding stunts can be diverted. Thus the turning slide 2 is providedwith a high efficiency support to prevent the slide from breaking.

[0030] Such a quick release system can also be provided betweensupporting slide 1 and frame extensions 6 a and 6 a′ or the supportingplate 11 respectively.

[0031] The foremost end of the supporting slide 1 overlaps the rearmostend of the turning slide 2 by being separated from each other in thevertical direction. The overlap length of the slides is preferred to beabout 5 cm. Although not shown in the figures, a shaft is fitted in theupper end of said rotating arm 4, and the shaft can slide in therotating arm 4. Consequently, the height of the rotating arm isadjustable. An adjustable head connector 18 protruding forward ismounted at the upper end of the rotating arm 4. The head connector 18holds the handlebar 19 at the central portion of the handlebar 19,wherein the length of the handlebar 19 is approximately 70 cm. Thehandlebar 19 is provided with grips 20, 21 at the lateral sides, suchthat the rider can hold the grips 20, 21 and thereby control the slidingdevice. A stabilizer bar 22 is attached between the grips 20, 21 toenhance the strength of the handlebar 19. The longitudinal location ofthe grips 20, 21 is preferred to be between the front end of thesupporting slide 1 and the rear end of the turning slide 2 when theturning slide 2 is aligned with the supporting slide 1.

[0032] When riding on the sliding device, the stabilizing bar 10 can beused to assist in performing curves by squeezing the bar 10 tightlybetween the rider's legs, wherein the rider can easily lean his weightto the edge of the turning side when making a curve. To perform suchweight transformation efficiently, it is preferable to fasten the entiresupporting plate 11 to the supporting slide 1 as firmly as possible,also in case of quick release system.

[0033] The supporting slide 1 and the turning slide 2 are both made fromknown laminated material of synthetic resin for snow boards or skis,such as wood, metal, glass fiber, carbon fiber, etc. The bottom edges ofthe slides are preferably enhanced with a sharp metal runner to protectthe surface of the slides from the friction between the slides and theicy ground, especially from the friction generated during a slidingturn, and the so-called edge status when making a sliding turn.

[0034] The sliding device in accordance with the present invention,especially the structure of the turning slide described above, thesliding runner of the supporting slide 1 is always coincident with thatof the turning slide 2 when sliding, even when the turning slide 2 isturned by the handlebar 19. Therefore, a ride can perform the slidingturn properly.

[0035] With the sliding device described above, even on soft powder snowground or when the rider performs jumps or special sliding feats, it ispossible to perform the sliding in a stable and smooth manner.

[0036] The dimensions of the components shown in the embodiments aregenerally for adult riders. However, if the riders are children, thedimensions can be changed accordingly.

1. A sliding device for snow sports comprising a foot supporting slide(1) and a turning slide (2) which are connected with each other by meansof a frame (5, 6, 10) and a rotating arm (4) guided in a sleeve (5) ofthe frame, wherein struts (6) and a stabilizing bar (10) are providedbetween the sleeve (5) and a supporting plate (11) on the supportingslide (1), characterized in that the supporting plate (11) is providedwith a flexible portion or hinge (9 a) to allow a pivot movement betweena front portion (11′) and a rear portion (11″) of the supporting plate(11).
 2. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein thestabilizing bar (10) is pivotably connected with the rear portion (11″)of the supporting plate (11) and is provided with a shock absorber(101).
 3. The sliding device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein frameextensions (6 a) extend along the sides of the supporting plate (11) andare divided into a front portion (6 a) and a rear portion (6 a′) in thearea of the hinge (9 a) or flexible portion.
 4. A sliding device forsnow sports comprising a supporting slide (1) and a turning slide (2)which are connected with each other by means of a frame (5, 6, 10) and arotating arm (4) guided in a sleeve (5) of the frame, wherein struts (6)and a stabilizing bar (10) are provided between the sleeve (5) and asupporting plate (11) on the supporting slide (1), characterized in thatthe smallest portion (a) of the turning slide (2) is wider than thewidest portion (c) of the supporting slide (1), and a ground contactportion (2 a) of said turning slide (2) spreads out forward and issubstantially a trapezoid-like plate, the largest width (b) of thisground contact portion (2 a) being approximately 1.01-1.1 times thesmallest width (a) of the ground contact portion.
 5. The sliding deviceaccording to the preceding claims, wherein said two frame extensions (6a) extend longitudinally along the lateral sides of the supporting slide(1), said foot supporting plate (11) is substantially formed of rigidmaterial and is connected to said frame extensions (6 a, 6 a′) bywelding the entire length of the lateral sides of the supporting plateto the frame extensions.
 6. The sliding device according to claim 2,wherein the shock absorber (101) is made of rubber, constitutedhydraulically or is an MCU type, and is mounted in the central portionof said stabilizing bar (10).
 7. The sliding device according to thepreceding claims, wherein at the front portion (11′) of said supportingplate (11), a slipper-like foot strap (12) is mounted on said frameextensions (6 a), and said foot strap can loosely keep rider's two feetside by side, in the longitudinal or lateral direction on the supportingplate.
 8. The sliding device according to claim 7, wherein said footstrap (12) is formed from shape memory alloy and is provided with anadjustment means (121) to accommodate the size of different riders'feet.
 9. The sliding device according to the preceding claims, whereinthe lower end of a fork (3) is connected to said turning slide (2) at aposition on said turning slide about one fourth of the entire length ofthe turning slide (2) from the rear end of the turning slide by means ofa quick release system (14).
 10. The sliding device according to thepreceding claims, wherein the supporting slide (1) is connected with theframe extensions (6 a, 6 a′) or with the supporting plate (11) via aquick release system.